Whisper to a Scream (Book One of the Dark Whispers Universe)

ONE: PROLOGUE

ONE: PROLOGUE

LONDON, PRESENT DAY...

CONSTANTINE
He was in the middle of a lovely chat with his inner demons when someone knocked on the door. Confused, John Constantine cautiously opened it. He relaxed when he saw Zatanna.

"Zee! Lovely to see you," he greeted her warmly. He pulled her into his arms automatically and gave her a quick kiss before bringing her inside.

"John... We need to talk," Zatanna said.

"What did I do this time?" He replied casually.

"It's what we did... Look, I don't have much time. They're after me. I can't let them find me here."

"Who's after you, Luv?"

"It doesn't matter. I can't stay. You have to protect her, John."

"Her? Her who?"

"Our daughter."

He blinked at her. "Our what now?"

Zatanna sighed. "Raeppaer," she said. A tiny human suddenly appeared in her arms. She looked at John with curious eyes that matched Zatanna's and a head of blonde hair that he also recognized. "John... This is Emily. She's three months old as of today."

"Bollocks, Zee! Why didn't you tell me?" He demanded.

"It didn't come up."

"Are you bloody kidding me?"

"You can be a hard man to reach, John Constantine, and I was busy trying to keep her safe."

"Safe from what, Zatanna? What's got you so scared?"

"There's a demon after me, John. He's been chasing me since Emily was a couple of days old. He's getting closer. I can't keep her safe right now... But you can."

"Zee, I don't know what to do with a kid!"

"You'd better learn, John. You're all she has now." She tensed. "They're close. I have to go." She kissed Emily's forehead. "I love you, my sweet baby girl..." She looked at John before she kissed him, too and handed him the baby. "Keep her safe... Please. I'll come back as soon as I can."

"Zee, don't go, Luv. Whatever this is, we'll fight it together," he protested. He was terrified by the desperation in her eyes. Zatanna wasn't the type to panic.

"I love you, John... I'll find my way back to you," she promised. Then, she ran, refusing to look back.

John almost ran after her, but the tiny person looking up at him stopped him. He couldn't run into danger with an infant in his arms, but he couldn't just leave her alone and unattended either. If she was really his and Zatanna's kid, there was no guarantee she wouldn't somehow summon a hoard of demons while he was away. That would be just his luck.

"Bollocks!" He mumbled. "What am I supposed to do now?"

Emily reached her tiny hand toward his face and booped him on his nose. He looked at her and shook his head.

"Alright, you win, Emily," he said with a laugh. "Let's conjure you a bottle or something..." He carried her deeper into the house and tried not to worry too much about her mother.

WANDA
The demon hunting her was relentless. Wanda Maximoff was running out of ideas when it shoved a sharp weapon through her chest.

Pietro... She thought. Help me.